Aerial life-saving device.



1. E. THOROUGHGOOD, s.

AERIAL HFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3, i918.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Elvmmntoc John E Thorougbgaad 52'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. THOROUGHGOOD, 83., O1 EDGECOMB, WASHINGTON.

AERIAL LIFE-SAVER G DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: E. THOROUGH- oooo, Sr., a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Edgecomb, county of Snohomish, State ofWashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aerial Life-Saving Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvement in aerial life saving devices,that can'be worn on the body of an aviator in ascending in an aeroplaneor airship, and has for its object the provision of a simple form ofgarment that can be easily entered by the aviator and secured to hisbody, and can be as easily removed therefrom after descending. A furtherobject resides in the simplicity of construction and the adaptability ofthe device of being under'the operative control of the arms, whereby theaviator can effect the equilibrium of his descent feet foremost. Stillfurther objects will appear from the following specification,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing, the figure is a erspective view of my invention upon theody of an aviator in its operative position.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numeralsindicate like parts, the numeral 1 represents the body of an aviator,and 2 represents an encircling uppergarment in the form of a cape,preferably constructed of any strong, flexible material that will not bebundlesome on the body of the aviator when not employed in descent. Thisgarment is placed around the neck and preferably buttoned or otherwisesecured in the front, as at 3. Upon the two opposite extremities of thegarment are secured wrist bands 4 and 4', that are adapted to beattached to the wrist of an aviator, and to these bands are likewisesecured straps 5- and 5' that are extended downwardly to the waist line,and secured to a belt 6 that is adapted to be fastened around the waistof an aviator. These straps 5 and 5', and other straps 7 secured to theextremity of the garment and to the waist belt, are adjusted as tolength so as to preclude the arms from being elevated above a horizontalplane.

To the waist belt 6 is further secured, in any well known manner, anencircling arment 8, in the form of a skirt, and this 'rt Specificationof Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 13, 1918. Application filed January 3,1918. Serial No. 210,217.

is fastened in the front, as at 9, preferably in the same manner as thegarment 2 is fastened, and upon the outer extremities of this garment,approximately equidistant apart, are secured a plurality of straps 10that extend downwardly and are secured to belts 11 and 11, and thesebelts are in turn secured around the legs of an aviator.

To the belts 11 and 11' are secured corresponding encircling garments 12and 12' respectively, that are adapted to assume the same form wheninflated with air as the preceding garments 2' and 8 assumewhen inflatedwith air, and these garments are held, when inflated, by straps 13secured approximately equidistant apart around the lower extremityof thegarment and are connected at their other ends to belts 14 and 14respectively, and these belts in turn are secured around the ankles ofan aviator. Straps I5 and 15' are provided upon each of these belts 14and 14 and are extended around the bottom of the shoe of an aviator andthence connected to the adjacent side of the belts for the purpose ofprecluding displacement.

In operation, the aviator extends his hands, which assist the uppergarment to become quickly inflated and the rush of air likewise causesthe lower garments to become similarly inflated, and the equilibrium ofthe aviator is controlled in his descent by the manipulation of thearms. It can thus be seen that an aviator, equipped with this device,will be immune from rapid descent when precipitated from his machine,and the loss of life, incident thereto, will be greatly minimized.

It is to be understood that various changes in the form and manner ofconstruction can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of. myinvention.

What I claim as" new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An aerial life saving device comprising a plurality of garmentsadapted to be expanded, one of which garments secured to the upper partof the body of an aviator, means for securing the lower extremity ofsaid garment to the wrists of said aviator, straps secured to said meansand connected with a belt secured around the waist of said aviator, andthe other of which garments ada ted to be secured to said waist belt,and a p urality of straps attached to the lower extremity of said lastnamed garment and connecting with belts secured to the legs of saidaviator.

2. An aerial life saving device comprising a series of encirclinggarments adapted to be expanded with air, one of which garments securedaround the neck of an aviator and having its lower extremity secured atopposite points to belts around the wrists of said aviator, strapssecured to said wrist belts and connecting with a belt secured aroundthe Waist of said aviator, other straps connecting said garment withsaid araaee

